PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: "I HEARD....."

 

From Pastor John Collins on Heaven’s Country (8.2.20):

.....I heard

"I went through the archive for Pastor John Collins Marty Smith, and do you know how many times in the last six years we talked about gossip? 24.  You know why? Kinda like last week when we talked about the old pastor doing John 3:16 over and over its because people aren’t catching it.

"I think that one of the worst things any human being can do to another is to either be a gossip, a slanderer, or a busybody. I’ve said this, and I don’t know how more plain I can be by saying this,  if the audience again they’re not going to like my language “if you don’t have anything nice to say about somebody that can build them up, shut up, because you’re only doing Satan’s work by putting them down and keeping them down.”

Proverbs 21:23 (ESV):  “whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble”

....But not so much that it keeps himself out of trouble in the eyes of God, but you may not be tearing down somebody’s soul. I just think that somebody that doesn’t have anything good to say about somebody, keep your mouth quiet.  If you get your jollies by talking about other people to try to discredit them, or disprove them, you’re not much of a Christian and in my eyes you’re not much of a human being in the first place.  You know, we have such a problem with everybody wants to be better than everybody else and they will say and do whatever it is that will get them status, and the heck with what the other person feels. Marty, you and I are big advocates of suicide prevention.  Suicide is caused a lot by bullying because of peoples actions and their tongue. A lot of sleepless nights are caused by people’s actions and their tongues.

Gossip has been a repeated topic in blogs and posts and sermons by Pastor John over the years…..and we still need to hear the truth.

The following are composed from previous blogs, posts, and sermons by Pastor John Collins.  When are we going to get it?

From Evangelist, Pastor John Collins during a revival:

Are our own lives so boring that we must entertain ourselves with the pain and humiliation of others?  Do we really need to know who is doing what and why?  Is it any of our business?  Isn’t there something we could be doing that is productive and good?  Isn’t there a wholesome way we could converse with each other?  Is it really any of our business to discuss the sex lives of others?  Is it proper to discuss our own sex lives with others?  Is there nothing that is sacred anymore?  Is there nothing we will not expose about someone just because we can?

 

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV).

 

Gossip is the same as murder in the eyes of the Lord.  It harms people, it destroys reputations and it is just an awful way to spend your time.  It is a part of society today and it is shameful and wrong.  Think of your conversations, consider your words and know that idle speech is of the devil.  We should all cast away our joy in gossip and learn to bridle our tongues.  Be careful of what you say and what you readily listen to.  You don’t have to be polite and listen to gossip.  You can easily say, “I prefer not to hear that.”  Life can be easily simplified by not engaging in idle talk.

 

“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 (NKJV).

 

Your tone of voice is an indication of the true intent behind your words. Someone may say something that is true and yet the way in which it is said and the words that are chosen are either combative and malicious, calm and soothing, frank and impartial, or ingratiating and patronizing. Each of us should always be careful of intentions and try to avoid causing others to stumble in this life.

 

Our emotions determine our actions. When we are angry at someone and have no forgiveness in our hearts for a situation or person then our speech about anything concerning that situation or person will be hateful and bitter. When we are jealous of someone then our speech about them will be spiteful and cutting. When we are hurt we can lash out and try to hurt in return and say awful things that cannot be taken back but just becomes the next set of words and the next situation that must be repented of and forgiven. Life is exhausting if you do not manage to gain the perspective that permits you to desire to seek righteousness and obtain that goal.

 

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6: 16-19. (NKJV).

Jesus was righteous and His life taught that you can become righteous and you can do the right thing. You do this by choosing to learn how God sees things and by trusting that God will take care of the justice of this world. Humans are prideful and stubborn and always want to think that they are the wronged party, the misunderstood and the victimized. Humans just have that wrong.

 

Jesus came and showed us that life isn’t fair, life is tough, and people are judgmental and can be hateful. Jesus came and showed us that forgiveness is right, kindness is good and that God does value His children. Jesus showed us that our words have the power to hurt, heal, encourage, deflate, inspire and so many other wonderful and terrible things. You need to be willing to give your soul a chance at salvation and to that you need to be willing to obey the Lord, hear the Lord and submit to the Lord. You cannot do that if you are always right, always defensive or offensive, prideful, stubborn, unforgiving, hateful, bitter or unwilling to bend.

 

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6 (NKJV).

 

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST

Reach Pastor John Collins through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com or through email at jcollinsministries@gmail.com.  Listen to Pastor John Collins on Heaven's Country Radio on Sundays at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: AN EDITORIAL ~ CHURCH HURT

From John Collins Ministries:

Pastor John feels it is time to show the world how far from Christianity we have gotten.  He wants to change the face of Christianity and make it mean something!  If you do not understand what this means, let me explain it to you.

Today we have people who do not want to go to church for very good reasons!  There are the "church hurt" people.  Church hurt means someone who was hurt by their church.  This could be someone who turned to their church for help and was turned away.  It could mean someone who was judged in church, felt pushed away or uncomfortable within their church or disagrees with everything going on inside of their church.  How do you take a church hurt person and get them to trust in a church again?

At one time, it was very respectful to be a Christian.  Today, it is not cool to be a Christian because look how bible thumping Christians behave!  They think they are holier than thou, better than others, quote bible scripture out of one side while the other side behaves like a fool and hypocrite.  People like to claim they are a Christian and their actions speak otherwise.  In fact, some people run from those who claim they are Christians.  If you are a true Christian, there is no need to brag or state it because your actions will prove it (one way or the other).

THE DARKNESS

Let’s take a look at the Catholic Church.  How do you trust that your child can attend a catholic school or church without your supervision?  You can't and it is being proven over and over.  The molestation that happens on a daily basis is not subsiding.  Once it was swept under the rug but today it is coming out more and more.  Even with the news being publicized, the priests are still continuing down this dark satanic path.

THE PROSPERITY DOCTRINE

Take a look at the doctrine being preached by preachers all over the world.  The one you will see on T.V. at any time of the day is the prosperity doctrine.  When did Jesus tell us to preach for money?  Who said it was okay to take payment for prayer?  This is wrong on so many levels.  It just makes me sick!  Damnation is a very scary word that these preachers must not understand!

SO WHAT HEALS US?

So what heals us?  It is simple, our faith through Jesus Christ and our trust in the one and only true God, the Almighty!  NOT A MAN ON A PULPIT claiming to have magical powers. They might as well get their crystal ball out and pretend to speak in tongues to it!  Come on people! Don't be so ignorant to believe that a sinful man can heal your sickness.  It doesn't work like that, never has and nowhere in the bible does it say it does!  One of the greatest scriptures to support this is the woman in the bible that bled for many years, touched the cloak of Jesus and he turned to her to say "Woman, your FAITH has healed you".  How great are those words!

So you say you are a Christian but others will judge you. They will point the finger at you and say you're not politically correct.  Why can a Christian not stand for what is written in the Holy Bible and not be criticized?  There is an answer. Jesus said we can be persecuted for our belief.  Matthew 5:10 - 11 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." The beatitudes are wonderful and tell us what will happen.  Are we willing to endure the persecution, and at what cost?

According to Pastor John, if he had to base Christianity upon what he sees and hears on T.V., radio, and in church, he would NOT be one!  Most people wouldn't be one with these outlets as their guidelines.  Pick up the Holy Bible and figure out what you believe, not what someone else tells you to believe.  That someone else is not going to stand beside you and take the heat when you are asked by God on your final day "why did you do this".

‍

The face of Christianity needs a face lift!  Remove the evil and replace with our one true God, His laws, His will, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is that simple!

Pastor John Collins feels that there is a great need in the United States to get away from the prosperity gospel, to get  priorities right, that there is no price to be put on a soul.  Each person is precious and deserves to hear the word of God in its entirety and without it being watered down.  Pastor John Collins is available to travel to speak to churches or groups for this sermon series.  He can be reached through John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com.

LOVE THAT CROSS!! BELIEVE THAT!! 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

THE VOICE OF GOD-PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES

From John Collins, Evangelist:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5:25-29 (NKJV).

This is one of the truths of the Bible and of this world and the perfection of God that should amaze everyone. God is all-knowing and from the beginning of this world and the first deaths of this world those souls were held in waiting for Jesus. They slept and their faith while they lived and the deeds that they did would speak for themselves as to whether or not they would believe in Jesus Christ when He spoke. Those that were true believers in God and those who lived by faith heard Jesus and believed in Him immediately upon waking. Those who were not believers in God and did not live by faith awoke to condemnation and eternal hellfire.

God will always be perfect and this world has yet to have all revealed to them. When new revelations come, as with Jesus, those who truly belong to God will hear the truth and follow that truth. There will be sons of damnation that will try to challenge your faith and your belief but God knows those who are His and He will always call them home. Trust that if you truly want to belong to God, you will because you will choose Him over this world and He will hold you safe from all.

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30 (NKJV). 

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: TORAH

From John Collins, Evangelist:

Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” John 7:16-17 (NKJV)

Christianity is going through a crisis of immense proportions. People have been waking up to the truth of the history of the church, to the paganism within the church and to the abuse of grace that has produced so much disobedience to God. Jesus was very clear in stating that you must obey the Father and not just believe, for it is those who love Him that are obedient. That being said, there are Christians everywhere who are taking their wake up call that was from God and jumping ship all together. There are Christians who have desired to start at the beginning, get to know the Torah and study the word of God to know what sin is, what obedience consists of, and what is promised in the prophecies. You have Christians going from learning about the feasts and wanting to observe them which has led to many seeking out rabbis to teach them which has led to them ditching Jesus and taking the steps to convert to Judaism. This is a problem and a big one. Those who are weak in their faith are finding themselves being convinced that Jesus is not the Son of God, that He was not the Messiah and that He was not even Torah observant Himself, but introduced pagan beliefs to His followers and created a new religion that has nothing to do with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Heaven forbid, but, it is true.

I will be very clear on this. God clearly instructed His feasts to be observed, they are prophetic and should be part of your knowledge. God clearly said that swine is an abomination, not only in the Torah but in Isaiah and unclean birds and detestable beasts are mentioned in Revelation which means that there are still clean and unclean animals. God said that the Sabbath was eternal and a sign between Him and His people and that keeping it would bring blessings. Now, there are many who claim that Jesus nailed to the cross all of the law of Moses, but, in truth what He did was pay the price of the curse of the law, as sin brought death and His death brings life, so we escape the penalty that our sin demands. There are many verses that clearly indicate that you should keep the law, but, there are the verses about grace too and there are so many parts of the law that are not possible to keep so there are many possible stumbling blocks to trip the believer up.

What does God want from you? He wants you to believe in Jesus and He wants to become a person after His own heart. How do you do that? You not only love your neighbor as yourself, but you study the word of God, you do your best to be obedient. Always think of the Sermon on the Mount and know that you are to not only obey the letter of the law, but more importantly, you are to obey the spirit of the law. Remember Jesus said, ‘Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matt. 5:19 (NKJV). Are you going to hell for not keeping the feasts? Certainly not, especially if you didn’t know. If you know, should you keep them to the best of your ability? Yes. Should you keep Sabbath? Certainly. If you work and are providing for your family, will God know and also know your heart? Yes. Jesus has given us freedom to trust Him, to love Him, to find the strength to forgive, to let go of hurt and find peace, to stop gossiping and to stop using our bodies to sin. By His stripes, we are healed.

Those who choose to honor God, to obey Torah and to seek to worship Him as it instructs, that is good as long as you don’t find yourselves lost in Jewish teachings, pitching Jesus into the trash bin and chucking your salvation into the toilet. To those who choose to continue to worship Jesus and God as they always have and to ignore the Torah people and the confusion that is running rampant, stay in prayer and trust that the Holy Spirit of God will guide you and keep you. It is better to cling to Jesus and trust in His grace than it is to see Christianity as only evil, Judaism as the only truth and lose your salvation through confusion, doubt and thereby ultimately rejecting your Savior.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: THE TONGUE

From John Collins, Evangelist: 

"But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 (NKJV).

Your tone of voice is an indication of the true intent behind your words. Someone may say something that is true and yet the way in which it is said and the words that are chosen are either combative and malicious, calm and soothing, frank and impartial, or ingratiating and patronizing. Each of us should always be careful of intentions and try to avoid causing others to stumble in this life.

Our emotions determine our actions. When we are angry at someone and have no forgiveness in our hearts for a situation or person then our speech about anything concerning that situation or person will be hateful and bitter. When we are jealous of someone then our speech about them will be spiteful and cutting. When we are hurt we can lash out and try to hurt in return and say awful things that cannot be taken back but just becomes the next set of words and the next situation that must be repented of and forgiven. Life is exhausting if you do not manage to gain the perspective that permits you to desire to seek righteousness and obtain that goal.

Righteousness is doing the right thing all of the time and not just when it suits you. Jesus was righteous and His life taught that you can become righteous and you can do the right thing. You do this by choosing to learn how God sees things and by trusting that God will take care of the justice of this world. Humans are prideful and stubborn and always want to think that they are the wronged party, the misunderstood and the victimized. Humans just have that wrong.

Jesus came and showed us that life isn’t fair, life is tough, and people are judgmental and can be hateful. Jesus came and showed us that forgiveness is right, kindness is good and that God does value His children. Jesus showed us that our words have the power to hurt, heal, encourage, deflate, inspire and so many other wonderful and terrible things. You need to be willing to give your soul a chance at salvation and to that you need to be willing to obey the Lord, hear the Lord and submit to the Lord. You cannot do that if you are always right, always defensive or offensive, prideful, stubborn, unforgiving, hateful, bitter or unwilling to bend.

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6 (NKJV).

 LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: POWER OF PRAYER

From Pastor John Collins:

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:19-21 (NKJV).

There is true evil in this world. We can look around and see it. Many people would like to ignore it, not be bothered by it, not have it touch their lives and just go about their business. Sometimes evil intrudes and we are shocked, hurt and want to question if there is a God at all. If God is so powerful, why does He allow bad things to happen? That is always a question for those who would deny that there is a God and would claim that if there was a God at all then He must not care about us and must not be all good as those who believe in His say. God gave men free will to live and choose to behave as they would have it and for that reason there will always be evil in this world. Evil is just selfish desires and power grabs manifested in this world. Evil is those choosing to lash out at others because of their own hurt. Evil is defiance and rebellion acted out in order to lift oneself up. Evil is petty and there will come a time when God chooses to step in and bring about further revelation to this world.

Some wait for God to act and some want to ignore the signs but while there is still yet time we should be praying for more light to shine in the darkness. Prayer is a powerful thing and God wants to hear from us, not just about our lives, our desires, our sicknesses and needs, our family and friends but about our hopes and thoughts regarding this world. Do you consider praying about those who suffer, the abused men, women and children? Do you pray for the weak? Do you pray that those who protect us are themselves protected? Do you pray that righteousness would make its way into the government? Do you pray that foreign nations would be strengthened in food and health to limit the depletion of your own country? Do you pray that revelation would come from God that would minimize the desire to blow each other up? There are people whose only desire is for more power, more money, more weapons and the opportunity to display it all for the world to see. There is evil in this world because some only care about themselves and they don’t value life or the gifts that come with it.

What so many have forgotten, failed to realize or choose to ignore is that the only true power in this world comes from God alone and all of the rest is an illusion. God is the one who has all of the strength and He really does want us to make the best choices available to us and sometimes people just don’t know what that is. Changing things in this world can start with hope and prayer. Change does need to come, more light needs to permeate the dark and more people need to wake up to the reality that things are changing and we need to change as well. We need more righteousness in this world, not more rebellion. Pray for that.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV).

Love That Cross, Pastor John Collins

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: HELL IS FOR REAL

From Pastor John Collins:

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed, rather than having two hands, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’” Mark 9:43-44 (NKJV).

Mark 9:43 Jesus preaches Hell

Jesus goes on to say the same of your foot and your eye, which if it were to cause you to sin, you should cut it off or pluck it out. That is a brutal truth that is said in order to make the hearer and the reader realize just how important it is for a person to seek to be obedient to God in this life and to not sin. It is also very important for every person living to realize the absolute truth of hell, that it is a place of torment and those that are judged worthy of deserving hell, do indeed go there and everyone who does go there will be there for eternity and the suffering will never stop.

That is not what people want to hear. It is fire and brimstone preaching that our grandparents listened to but we don’t want to hear it, right? There are even many so-called Christians who refuse to accept that existence of hell and have chosen instead to delude themselves and say that “their God” would never create a place of eternal torment and that “their God” is a loving God who would never hurt His children and that means that hell is just being separate from the presence of God, or it is just a metaphor, or it is symbolic of some other state in which we may find ourselves during life or temporarily after death but it is not eternal nor is it a final judgment of torture. That is just wrong thinking and as much as people do not want to hear it or accept the truth of it, hell is real, just as heaven is real.

A choice of good and bad since the beginning

You cannot have one without the other. There was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden and that means that there has been the choice of good and bad since the beginning. Yes, all that we do in life is a choice and it all leads to the ultimate day of reckoning for everyone. There will be a time in which all will matter and will determine where you spend eternity. Are you going to be forever in heaven or in hell? Are your choices selfish ones, are your choices made with God and His will in mind and do you believe in the truth of the righteousness and truth of God, in the sacrifice of Jesus and in the available to you, through faith? These are things that you need to be aware of as you go through the day to day activities of your life, as you grow up, get a job, get married, have and raise children and do your best to be a person that can look yourself in the mirror in the morning and feel good about. Could you sit down with God and have a conversation knowing that He knows every single thought and feeling you have ever had and knows every single thing you have ever done alone and with every single person you have ever come into contact with? Could you honestly sit down with God and trust that you have done all that you could to obey Him and not sit there justifying your life?

Don’t waste what time you have been given with denials that are only good to serve your own disobedience. God will not give up on you and you should not give up on you but you must know that you are only given a very limited amount of time here on earth.  You should live that life with purpose knowing that your priorities will indeed have you sitting down with God one day so that you don’t have to live with regret while suffering the torments of the damned for all eternity.

“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” Mark 9:49-50 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES at www.johncollinsministries.com. 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: LAZY FAITH

From John Collins, Evangelist:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV).

It is time for a serious reality check for every single person living on earth at this time: You are going to die an earthly death and will have to face the righteous judgment of God. You may think you know what that means, you may not care but let me fill in the blanks for so many….whether you choose to believe in God or not, whether you find God fair or not, whether you agree with God or not, whether you end up dismissing God or not, whether you reject God or not and whether you end up getting as angry at God as you want and as defiant toward God as you want and you can ignore Him, disobey Him and reject His Son but in the end, ALL will come before the judgment seat of Christ and ALL will face the righteous judgment of God, whether you want to or not and whether you believe it or not.

Heaven is NOT a given. Heaven is NOT guaranteed. Heaven is a reward of the salvation that you claim when you choose Jesus and obedience over your worldly life and yourself. People are so selfish and self-involved and so full of self-importance that they just can’t seem to work out their salvation with fear and trembling because they have lost their capacity for reverence and most have never bothered to develop it for God in the first place but have transferred that delight and wonder and awe for the material things of this world and for the prestige that can come with it.

Everyone wants to talk about how God is love and just ignore the truth that God is wrath as well. Remember that God is complete, God is divine and God is the Creator of all and is without flaws. Judgment happens in a moment and is irreversible and it is forever. Why take any chances with your eternal soul when today allows you call on Jesus and to obey the Lord. Do not be lazy in your faith. Get right with God.

“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:11-12 (NKJV).

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS!

Read more about John Collins Ministries and reach me, Pastor John, personally through JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES at www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: GOD VALUES WOMEN

FROM PASTOR JOHN COLLINS:

“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.” John 20:16-18 (NKJV).

Mary Magdalene believed in Jesus, sought Him out, anointed Him with oil, wept on His feet and wiped those feet with her hair. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, learned from Him and was a disciple of His. Mary was the one that Jesus chose to see first after He was resurrected. Mary was brave and humble when she went to Him in that house of the Pharisee as she cared not what others thought of her, nor spoke of her but cared only to go to Jesus and kiss His feet and seek His forgiveness and His acceptance and Jesus not only gave that forgiveness, accepted her love for Him but spoke that she would be remembered for her actions and He demonstrated her value when He chose to go to Mary first and to give her the honor of knowing He was alive and to relate that information along with her witness of Him to his brethren.

It took courage to follow Jesus during His ministry and it took faith to know Him as the Son of God. Mary had that courage and had great faith in her Lord. There were dark centuries that followed the beginnings of the Christian faith. There have been centuries of oppression of not only the uneducated but of women as well. Women have come a long way from the days of the dark ages, of the days of education denial (for many parts of the world, anyway), and from the denial of equality of the genders. Women push forward in their search for that equality and for the opportunities to make their mark in this world but I want to remind women that their mark has been made and has never been taken for granted by God. God values women and Jesus demonstrated the love that He had for Mary by going to her first, by teaching her and standing up for her. Women should never forget that their value begins in the home, for they are the caretakers, the bringers of life and the mothers of our children. Do not underestimate the value of those things as being a mother allows you to teach your children how to get to heaven, how to live boldly and with faith in this dark world and being a wife allows you to help your husband be a part of a family that relies on God. A woman’s role does not have to be one thing or another but it should always be a role of strength and dignity with love and compassion at its core. That is the love of God within you and God has provided women with the complex ability to keep a family together and to guide it in love and faith with trust and truth at its center.

There always seems to be an agenda on the table and as progress ticks away and women continue to fight for what they believe to be most important to them I can only hope that they remember to value what has always belonged to them from the beginning.  Family is everything and while equal pay may seem to be the biggest priority to some this world seems to be allowing the family to fail. Industrial success will never replace the failures of our homes and women need to find the courage, like Mary, to believe in our Savior and to brave the opinions of others to declare their loyalty to Him as they live up to the great responsibilities that have been entrusted to them. It is not easy to choose faith over finances, faith over popularity, faith over apparent success or faith over personal gain but in the end heaven is waiting and families need strong women to guide them. 

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Read more about John Collins Ministries or reach me, Pastor John, at John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: OUR TEMPLE

FROM PASTOR JOHN COLLINS:

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” John 2:19-21 (NKJV).

Jesus referred to His body as a temple. A temple of God is to be treated with respect as it is holy and good. A temple of God is to be kept clean and pure. A temple of God is to be honored. Jesus knew that His body was a temple of God and all of us should know the same thing.

We are to think of our bodies as temples of God to be treated with respect and to be kept clean and free of filth. Too many people use their bodies for pleasure and to drink alcohol, do drugs, have sex in order to fulfill their lust. Too many people use their bodies to get what they want and to display their vanity. Too many people pollute themselves by seeking to enjoy themselves. 

Learn to respect the gift of life that you have been given and learn to be grateful for that gift. Your bodies are a gift from God and should not be used to sin against God.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more or contact me, Pastor John, at John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: END TIMES?

From Pastor John Collins:

"And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceit many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be said.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."  Matthew 24:10-14 (NKJV).

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  Mark 13:32 (NKJV).

Many are saying that we are nearing the end of times, that Jesus will return soon, that the rapture is near and tribulation is upon us.  Jesus said that only the Father knows theme so it is impossible for anyone to know when the end will come.  Yet, with so may preachers teaching this and so many eyes open to the happenings in the Middle East and so much attention being drawn to prophecy and supposition, what are people not taking their faith more seriously?  Why is there not more people repenting and coming to the foot of the Cross?

When prophets were sent to Israel and Judah, they were not always heard.  The sad truth is the majority of the people clung to their ways, their sin and their attachment to this world.

Too many perished because of their stubbornness and refusal to submit to God.  Every day that God holds back the judgement of the world is a day of mercy us all.  Each of those days in an opportunity to shout from the rooftops that salvation is available to the lost. Each day is filled with the hope that we will come to our senses and get right with God.

We need to take our faith and salvation seriously.  We need to stop procrastinating and stop putting off changing our lives and our ways.  We need to get this right for ourselves and each other.  We cannot be half committed, somewhat devoted or undecided when it comes to being a follower of Christ.  We need to give all, believe whole-heartedly and commit completely to living a life that is in obedience to Jesus and in submission to God.  That is what ensures our eternal salvation with the reward of entry through heaven's gates

We all can do better, be better and become more Christ-like.  Each of us needs to be willing to alter our lives and purify our hearts.  It is not enough to say, "I am a work in progress."  We need to get honest with ourselves about what we hide from the world, about what we don't admit and about what needs to change.  Jesus is your strength and He wants you to belong to Him.  Do not deny yourself forever in heaven because you were unsure or lazy in your faith.  Even when  you have doubts, call on Jesus in truth and I know that those doubts will fade and the truth along with the hope of salvation will bloom in your heart.

"Behold, I stand at the door and know.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I have overcome and sat down with my Father on His throne."  Revelations 3:20-21 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more or contact me through John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: LOOKING BACK

From Pastor John Collins:

“Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:24-26 (NKJV).

Lot’s wife looked back. She was leaving family, her home and fortune, her status and God knew her love for these things. So often the people of this world find their identity in the family that they have created, in the things that they have acquired and in the social standing that they have established. There is also a time in which a person’s life may feel the most bountiful and full which they may at times ‘look back’ on and regret where they are or resent where they are.

Every choice, whether good or bad, for our lives takes us a step closer to where we will end up and we should never regret the bad nor place extreme attachment to the good. The bad gives you a testimony to a life lived that has brought lessons and wisdom and should therefore be savored as it is an opportunity to help another avoid similar mistakes. The good should be cherished for the appreciation that it gives you for the simplicity in the human experience that will bring you joy. The need is for you to always look forward with hope and use the knowledge of both so that your decisions can become more and more righteous with every step of the way.

Jesus Christ provides salvation, forgiveness, love, wisdom, knowledge, hope, peace, joy and a truly compassionate heart that will carry you on your journey. To know the Lord in truth is to choose to obey His commands and to keep your perspective in life. Keep it simple, don’t take things so seriously as to find yourself always offended, always defensive and always ready to strike out. Use the wisdom gained in your life to bring hope to another, to find peace in your heart and to forgive as you have been forgiven. Don’t long for yesterday, find acceptance in today and hope in tomorrow.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: THE BLIND CHRISTIAN

From John Collins, Evangelist:

“Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their heart, And return and be healed.” Isaiah 6:10 (NKJV).

“There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seek after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12 (NKJV).

When we think of those who have been blinded and made deaf, those who have been given over to their lusts, we think of the obvious sinners, the ones living life in defiance to the commandments of God and Jesus Christ. Yet, the most pitiful and dreadful blinding that exists is the blind Christian.

Blind Christians believe they have it right. These believers gossip, hate, are self-righteous, are greedy, selfish, proud and just don’t even realize it. They believe because they know scripture, may even be able to quote it, they go to church and claim Jesus as their Lord that they are the real deal. These are the most dangerous and desperately lost of all. When one is so confident in their salvation that they cease to look within, that person is not working out their salvation with fear and trembling.

We must walk a fine line in our faith. We must believe in our salvation and forgiveness yet we must always maintain our awareness of our souls and the need for repentance, the need for purity of our mind and heart as well as the need of our devotion to gaining knowledge in the word of God.

Our faith must be active and alive. We must nurture it so that it grows. It will be tested and it will be tried by fire. We must learn to participate in our lives with Christ. We must be willing to seek the truth in our souls. This I can tell you plainly: whatever ugly is inside you, God already knows it is there. We must acknowledge it, face it, and release it through repentance and forgiveness that is genuine and not lip service only or we will take it with us to hell. Fear nothing, be honest when you look within and make sure that your personal inquiry is based on the truth of the gospel and not your perception of some weakened version of it. Come to the foot of the cross in truth, naked and trusting, bare your souls and receive genuine salvation. It is only with transparency that we will find forgiveness and we are unable to be honest as long as we are holding on to our self-image as seen through the eyes of this world.

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” Philippians 3:14-15 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: JESUS' ENEMIES

From Pastor John Collins:

“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” Psalm 110:1 (NKJV).

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 (NKJV).

Most people like to think of the truly evil as the enemies of Jesus. Most people would see themselves and their loved ones as loved by Jesus and part of the kingdom of God. Most people see themselves as good people and deserving of going to heaven. Most people are in denial about the perfect and righteous judgement of God.

What would you do if Jesus told you personally that you are His enemy? How would you feel if Jesus let you know that you had offended Him and you were not in His good graces? Can you imagine such a thing? What would you do to change that if it were true? What would be the circumstances that would make that true? Would it be true if you were a liar, a whore, a manipulator, a gossip, a greedy person, a person who had an abortion without guilt, a person who uses drugs and alcohol to excess, a person who holds hate in their heart, a person who won’t forgive, a person who is vain, a person who does not believe in Jesus, a person who does not believe in God?

Jesus did die for our sins on that cross so long ago but He did not die so that His sacrifice could be taken in vain and that He could become the justification for those who choose to continue to live in sin and think that it is covered by His blood. If you want to have salvation then you have to obey the Son of God.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: WHAT MATTERS?

From Pastor John Collins:

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NKJV).

We have fallen down on the job people! When did we get lazy in raising our children, apathetic in watching the downfall of our society, encouraging in sinful behavior and unwilling to be part of the solution while loving complaining about it all. When did the blame fall on everyone else’s shoulders while we stand and watch our country burn?

We are systematically ruining our existence and doing nothing worthwhile about it. Why? Because not enough people want to stop their own nonsense long enough to make a change first. Everyone wants the other person, party, gang, opposition etc. to give in first because they all want to win. Stubborn, selfish, foolish pride and egos will tear families apart, tear cities apart and tear this country apart.

We have got to get to a place where the choice to do right, stop doing wrong become ours as a whole, not just individually. We need to find our humanity amongst each other and choose to be God’s people and not our own people. In the end, the choice is up or down and there is nothing in this life that is worth stopping you from going up. Whatever fight is being fought, whatever battle is being lost or won, whatever argument is being raged and whatever moral decay is the price that is paid is just not worth it.

God is what matters, no matter how often people want to deny that fact, it remains a fact. Jesus is what matters and our commitment to walking the path that He has designated for us is what matters. The violence, the drugs, the alcohol, the hatred, the partying, the greed, the lust, the pride, the status, the betrayal and pain of it all is just so base and such a waste of time. Choose life by choosing Jesus.

“See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, BELIEVE THAT, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: CRACKPOT CHURCHES AND FAKE PROPHETS

From Pastor John Collins:

“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor as their fathers forget My name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. ‘What is the chaff to the wheat?’ says the Lord. ‘Is not My word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’ Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal My words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the Lord, and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet, I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:25-32 (NKJV).

There have been churches built on the lies of a ‘prophet’, there have been millions and millions of dollars collected on the basis of the lies of a ‘prophet’ and it has become nothing for people to say that God is giving them dreams and telling them this or that and that this person or that is a prophet to the Lord and is anointed.

There is a higher price to pay for deceiving people in the name of the Lord but the most awful price is paid by the one who is convinced by the deceiver. God is not unable to make His will known to all. God is not without the power to make sure that His message is received and it is unmistakable. God’s voice thundered from heaven when Jesus was baptized. The magnitude of the miracles that we done by Jesus and in the name of Jesus was not questionable. When God wants you to know something, 

He is not subtle.

Many a foolish person has been taken in by a bible scholar who can spin the scriptures to delight the listener and convince them of the authority of the speaker. Do not be fooled by clever orators who eventually base their ‘church’ on themselves and demand your pocketbook and your complete devotion while claiming to have visions from God and instructions from God.

Get a bible for under 10 dollars and read it. Then read it again and again. It will help you to have the ability to rightly discern the crackpot churches that have been around for centuries and it will help you tune out the nonsense that so many are tossing around these days.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 15-16 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: THE CYCLE

From Pastor John Collins:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV).

Reading through the descriptions in that scripture is to describe most schools, workplaces, social gathering spot, homes and churches in today’s society. That list is commonplace for people. That list describes most of the people we know, whether we want to admit it or not and whether they admit it themselves or not. That list states that most everyone is not going to heaven.

At some point we have got to wake up to the reality of this truth and do something about it. It is not okay that people just go about their lives eating, drinking, playing and having children only to continue the cycle while the outcome of their eternity is being ignored. Just because you ignore a problem does not mean that it will change or go away. You must face problems head on and the problem of rebelling against God is a choice and believe me, ignoring God is choosing to rebel against Him.

We can do better as a nation, as a state, a city, a community, a church, a household and an individual. We can care more about our eternal souls and begin to obey God more and more each day until it is constant and we are consistently acting as Christ would have us act and we can show our children what it means to put God first so that we can meet up in heaven one day.

Life is precious and it is up to us what we do with it. Just remember that God has a pretty amazing and huge reward for those who choose to follow His Son in this life and who choose to obey His will every minute of every day in this life.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: HALLOWEEN = PAGAN HOLIDAY

From Pastor John Collins: 

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:21 (NKJV).

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.’” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NKJV).

Halloween is paganism. God has spent a lot of time and effort and has sent many a prophet, messenger and apostle to fight paganism, which is of the devil and straight from Hell, to teach us what His will is and to teach us to know what is of Satan. Halloween is a holiday for Satan.

Just because the world is doing it does not make it right. Six billion dollars spent in the US per year on the devil’s day is appalling. Do you think because your kids enjoy it and it is a fun party for the adults too that God approves of it? No. God does not approve and He does take notice. There have been many people who are ignorant to the history of Halloween and therefore are acting against God in ignorance, but if you do know then there is no excuse for you to continue to celebrate this evil day.

Halloween is a pagan holiday and always has been. Choose this year to do something with your faith and stop joining in with the unbelievers and stop being unequally yoked with the unbelievers. It matters how you choose to spend your time here on earth and this holiday should never be celebrated and should not be a holiday. Choose to be a faithful Christian this year and every year after. Your soul is more important than some laughs, candy, pictures and drinks among the heathens.

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (NKJV).

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: RISK

From Pastor John Collins:

“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” Psalm 39:4-5 (NKJV).

People take undue risks with their lives every day. Some people drive crazy, some take drugs and drink too much alcohol and drive, some have chosen to be in gangs, to deal drugs, to steal and break in to places and some just like to fight. People take risks with their lives in the activities that they choose to do and some have risky jobs that require bold courage.

I don’t believe that people value life as they should and I don’t believe that the youth of this world values life as they should. Each person that is born is given a certain amount of time to get it right so that they can get to heaven and too many risk that life that has been given and don’t claim salvation prior to losing that life.

Life is precious and nobody should take it for granted. There is not any job that is too important to risk your safety on the road. There is not any fight that needs to be fought so that your life is taken in a bar or in an alleyway at night.

Don’t take the amount of time that you are given here on earth for granted. You never know what tomorrow will bring and you never know when it will all be over and judgment must come. Don’t risk your life for foolish reasons and don’t delay calling on Jesus. Time goes by so quickly and there is not any reason to rush off to join the dead by risking your life.

Take your faith seriously and take your life seriously because every Christian needs as much time as possible to get right with God and to bear fruit in the name of Jesus.

“The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.” Psalm 33:13-17 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: BAD DAY

From John Collins Ministries: 

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV).

Have you ever had a bad day that just went on and on into the next and then the next? Have you ever enabled your own sin by saying to yourself that you have already sinned so what does it matter? You do not have to allow one bad day to just stretch into an undetermined amount of time while you wallow in your own filth and excuses.   

God is amazing and His mercy and compassion is fresh and new each day so if you messed up yesterday and regret it there is no reason to continue today. You have to stop your own self-sabotage at some time and just get on with it. There is no excuse for any of us and we are prone to justify our mistakes. God does not want justifications, He wants us to accept responsibility and to make the effort to change our ways.

God does not expect perfection but He does expect you to care enough to make the effort. He knows when you are slacking in your faith, making excuses and just refusing to change your ways. If today was a bad day for you, find your remorse and then with a prayer seeking forgiveness you can move on and hope again in a new day, a new opportunity to get it right and a new chance to bear good fruit.

You have to decide that you are worth it and that you matter enough to desire heaven because God has already done that for you by sending Jesus and He died on that cross for you which proves His love and His belief that you are worth it. With our Lord validating your self-worth you need to do the same and choose to obey the gospel of Christ. Let each day be a day that you praise God and thank Jesus.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS